FIRE DEPARTMENT
"A look in the past" - Continued - Page 2
On this day, more than half of the department was severely burned in a gasoline explosion at Kennedale. As a result of these burns, Chief Harry D. Blissard and fireman Shirley Clyde Copeland lost their lives. Much of the department's equipment was also lost. With the death of Chief Blissard, Assistant Chief H.E. Baxter, Jr. assumed the duties of chief.
During the decade of the Fifties, the city did not have the money to support the department and volunteers were required to raise money by knocking on doors and asking for donations. Many projects were carried out during these trying years by these dedicated firemen. Through this means of raising money, a new three stall fire station was built on East Broad Street, two way radios were purchased, uniforms were provided, and a new 1957 station wagon was purchased for use by the chief and for emergencies. An addition was made to the existing building, and a dispatcher hired.
The Mansfield Firemen's Ladies Auxiliary was organized in February, 1955, with nine members. Losis Meeks was elected President; Geneva Baxter, Secretary Treasurer; and the members were Edna Barber, Helen Beard, Mary Bishop, Steele Gibson, Jo Ann Harris, Ruby Owens, and Rose Putman. The objective for forming the auxiliary was to aid the firemen in whatever way necessary, and to be ready at any time in case of fire or other disaster.
In 1958, the first Fire Phones were installed in thirteen firemen's homes. This was the first communication the firemen had except for a siren that was sounded by the dispatcher. On March 21, 1960, the department worked out with their first new Ford Pumper.
In 1964, the city secured the site for a new fire station at 210 Smith Street, (the present site) at a cost of $15,000. Still unable to finance the construction of the building, the volunteers poured the concrete floor themselves and erected the metal building beginning on April 20, 1964. The first meeting was held in the completed station on July 6, 1964. There is no record of the man hours spent erecting the building, but if you were to ask the wives, they would tell you that their husbands spent more time at the station during that period than they spent at home.
In January, 1975, officers were elected as follows: Chief H.E. Baxter, Jr., First Assistant Chief Bobby Looney, Second Assistant Chief Mac Thompson, Captain James Feagley, Captain Robert Snider, Cook Bobby Prescott, Cook Bob Stulce, Fire Marshal Johnny Paul Howard, President Hubert Beard, Vice President Ronald Baxter, and Secretary Treasurer Ira D. Gibbson. Members are T.G. Ackerman, Don Allen, Earl Andrews, Jim Atchison, Bobby Block, Jim Darden, Dan Gibson, Dick Green, Eddie L. Lamb, John M. Merrit, Deweece Perry, Clifton Perry, C.E. Pressley, Tony Seeton, Si Snider, J.T. Spears, Jerry Tate, Charlie Vess, Joe Walker, Louis Walker, and Joe Williams.
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